The most important election race in California this November is not the hotly contested contest for Governor between Jerry Brown and Meg Whitman. No, it isn't Carly Fiorina's attempt to unseat U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer, either. In fact, it doesn't even concern a candidate. Instead, it's Proposition 25. If you want to end the state's recent budget pattern of deficit and delay, vote yes.
The passage of 25 will do more to resolve the state's now-chronic budget woes than the victory of any candidate possibly can. Residents of the Golden State will remember that former Governor Gray Davis was recalled in favor of Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2003. One of Arnold's popular tag lines was that he would "fix the crazy budget in Sacramento." Davis faced a $6 billion debt his last year. At this the Governator has failed miserably. Every budget has been late, most of them out of balance by over $20 billion. A current budget is already a month late with no resolution in sight, and faces a $19 billion shortfall between revenues and expenditures.
The sad fact is that it isn't really Schwarzenegger's fault. It's the state's budget process. Specifically, it's because California is one of only three states to require a two-thirds vote to pass its budget. The other two are Rhode Island and Nebraska. This doesn't cause a problem in the Rhode Island legislature because that state is so overwhelmingly Democratic. In the General Assembly there are 69 Democrats and only 6 Republicans. In the State Senate they dominate 33 to 4 with 1 independent. It doesn't cause a problem in Nebraska's unicameral legislature because that state is so decisively Republican.
In California the Democrats are in the heavy majority but they don't have two-thirds. This allows 14 Republicans to block action in the 40-seat Senate and 27 to do so in the 80-member Assembly. The result is constant gridlock. When a deal is finally worked out, long after IOU's have been issued and money has been borrowed at interest, the Republican price is usually new tax reductions for business that ensures the next year's revenue will be short even more. No one is accountable. It's not a Democratic budget or a Republican one. The Republicans say the budget is a mess because the Democrats spent too much. The Democrats say it is a mess because the Republicans slashed revenue too much.
If Proposition 25 passes that will change. The Democrats will be able to pass their budget. They will pass it easily and on time. It will be the will of the solid majority. If it works they can claim all the credit. If it doesn't the Republicans will be able to assign them all the blame. The voters will have a clear record and choice upon which to base their votes for the next election, not a muddled situation in which each side can justifiably point fingers at the other. It's time to end the gridlock, restore majority rule (also known as democracy) and establish accountability. Vote yes on Prop 25 this November.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Pesticide-ADHD Link Indicated
Recent studies in the United States and Canada show that the presence of pesticides in the food of children doubles the incidence of ADHD--Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder--and that many foods show detectable amounts of such insecticides as were linked to the findings.
Maryse F. Bouchard of the University of Montreal in Quebec states, "I think it's fairly significant. A doubling is a strong effect." The research is published in the journal Pediatrics. To see the abstract click here. She gave the following advice to parents: "I would say buy organic as much as possible. I would also recommend washing fruits and vegetables as much as possible."
For example, according to the National Academy of Sciences, in 2008 measurable concentrations of malathion were found in "28 percent of frozen blueberry samples, 25 percent of fresh strawberry samples and 19 percent of celery samples."
It should not be surprising that chemicals used to kill other life forms by attacking their central nervous systems might also have adverse effects on our own. Indeed, it would be surprising were it otherwise.
So, buy organic whenever you can, wash that produce, and support reasonable regulation and inspection of foodstuffs. In the European Union new chemicals intended for use on crops must first demonstrate they are safe. In the United States chemicals are presumed harmless unless proven otherwise. Which approach do you feel would better protect you and your family? Which would you rather see in place?
Maryse F. Bouchard of the University of Montreal in Quebec states, "I think it's fairly significant. A doubling is a strong effect." The research is published in the journal Pediatrics. To see the abstract click here. She gave the following advice to parents: "I would say buy organic as much as possible. I would also recommend washing fruits and vegetables as much as possible."
For example, according to the National Academy of Sciences, in 2008 measurable concentrations of malathion were found in "28 percent of frozen blueberry samples, 25 percent of fresh strawberry samples and 19 percent of celery samples."
It should not be surprising that chemicals used to kill other life forms by attacking their central nervous systems might also have adverse effects on our own. Indeed, it would be surprising were it otherwise.
So, buy organic whenever you can, wash that produce, and support reasonable regulation and inspection of foodstuffs. In the European Union new chemicals intended for use on crops must first demonstrate they are safe. In the United States chemicals are presumed harmless unless proven otherwise. Which approach do you feel would better protect you and your family? Which would you rather see in place?
Sunday, August 15, 2010
New York Mosque Controversy
President Obama was, of course, right to say that a Muslim group has a right to build a mosque in New York City two blocks from the former site of the World Trade Center towers. Our First Amendment right to freedom of religion guarantees this. Whether it's two blocks, ten blocks or fifty blocks is irrelevant. If people want to build a church, mosque, synagogue, temple, ashram or any other religious structure anywhere in America that isn't on public land they are allowed to do so.
Most Americans apparently do not agree. A CNN poll this month found that 68% "oppose this plan" while only 29% "support" it. Because of the wording of the question that may include people who may agree the Islamic group has a right to do so but don't think it is a good idea. The President himself said his defense of the right to build the mosque does not necessarily mean he thinks it is a good idea. "I was not commenting and I will not comment on the wisdom of making a decision to put a mosque there," he said. I was commenting very specifically on the right people have that dates back to our founding."
When you have rights and freedoms you have to stand behind them. You cannot withhold them from entire groups because some extremists or fanatics committed an outrage. Consider this event from Middle Eastern history.
On July 15, 1099 forces of the First Crusade broke into Jerusalem. After eliminating the last pockets of armed resistance on the Temple Mount, Crusader knights and soldiers began a massacre of Muslim and Jewish civilians. According to Christian eyewitness Fulk of Chartres, "In this temple almost 10,000 were killed. Indeed if you had been there you would have seen our feet colored to our ankles with the blood of the slain. But what more shall I relate? None of them were left alive; neither women nor children were spared." Estimates of the civilian toll throughout the city range from 10 to 30 thousand.
How many Americans do you think would agree that Christians should not be allowed to build churches in Jerusalem after such a massacre? That's right, none would. You either believe in freedom of religion or you do not. It is one of the cardinal principles of American civic values, which is why it is in the very first article of the Bill of Rights. And it has to apply to everyone.
Most Americans apparently do not agree. A CNN poll this month found that 68% "oppose this plan" while only 29% "support" it. Because of the wording of the question that may include people who may agree the Islamic group has a right to do so but don't think it is a good idea. The President himself said his defense of the right to build the mosque does not necessarily mean he thinks it is a good idea. "I was not commenting and I will not comment on the wisdom of making a decision to put a mosque there," he said. I was commenting very specifically on the right people have that dates back to our founding."
When you have rights and freedoms you have to stand behind them. You cannot withhold them from entire groups because some extremists or fanatics committed an outrage. Consider this event from Middle Eastern history.
On July 15, 1099 forces of the First Crusade broke into Jerusalem. After eliminating the last pockets of armed resistance on the Temple Mount, Crusader knights and soldiers began a massacre of Muslim and Jewish civilians. According to Christian eyewitness Fulk of Chartres, "In this temple almost 10,000 were killed. Indeed if you had been there you would have seen our feet colored to our ankles with the blood of the slain. But what more shall I relate? None of them were left alive; neither women nor children were spared." Estimates of the civilian toll throughout the city range from 10 to 30 thousand.
How many Americans do you think would agree that Christians should not be allowed to build churches in Jerusalem after such a massacre? That's right, none would. You either believe in freedom of religion or you do not. It is one of the cardinal principles of American civic values, which is why it is in the very first article of the Bill of Rights. And it has to apply to everyone.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Greg Mortenson's Amazing Story
I recently finished reading one of the most remarkable true stories of recent times, Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. The book, which spent three years on the New York Times bestseller list, tells Mortenson's story of surviving a disastrous failed attempt to climb the notoriously dangerous Himalayan peak K-2 in 1993 and stumbling into the mountain village of Khorfe in northern Pakistan where the villagers took him in and nursed him back to health. In exchange for their hospitality Mortenson promised to build them a school.
Not a wealthy man, Mortenson went back to the United States, working as a nurse, and raised the money. What makes the story so interesting are the cultural aspects of dealing with people in that part of the world. Mortenson found he had to learn local languages, respect and follow local customs, listen to local concerns and hire and work through local people to get anything done, and often indeed, to stay alive. His approach has been so successful he and his Central Asia Institute has now built over 155 schools, insisting that girls be admitted as well as boys. As he likes to quote an African proverb, "Teach a boy and you educate an individual, teach a girl and you educate a community."
Beginning in 2004 he began building schools in Afghanistan as well, after initially having been invited to do so by Kirghiz tribesmen in the Wakhan Valley who heard of his efforts across the border in Pakistan. I am currently reading this story in a sequel book, Stones into Schools. His nonideological schools are a welcome alternative to the fundamentalist madrasas often funded in the region by Saudi Wahabis which all too often preach the kind of xenophobic and sexist extremism that inculcates a Taliban or terrorist perspective. Three Cups of Tea is said to be required reading at the Pentagon these days.
I really recommend you pick up Three Cups of Tea if you haven't done so yet and treat yourself to this amazing story. This is the way to spread peace and goodwill in the world. I'm thinking Greg Mortenson will win a Nobel Peace Prize someday. And if you live in my area you even have an opportunity to see him this fall. He will be appearing at the Visalia Convention Center at 7:00 PM on Tuesday, November 16. For tickets you can contact the Convention Center or Tickets.com. I hope to see you there.
Not a wealthy man, Mortenson went back to the United States, working as a nurse, and raised the money. What makes the story so interesting are the cultural aspects of dealing with people in that part of the world. Mortenson found he had to learn local languages, respect and follow local customs, listen to local concerns and hire and work through local people to get anything done, and often indeed, to stay alive. His approach has been so successful he and his Central Asia Institute has now built over 155 schools, insisting that girls be admitted as well as boys. As he likes to quote an African proverb, "Teach a boy and you educate an individual, teach a girl and you educate a community."
Beginning in 2004 he began building schools in Afghanistan as well, after initially having been invited to do so by Kirghiz tribesmen in the Wakhan Valley who heard of his efforts across the border in Pakistan. I am currently reading this story in a sequel book, Stones into Schools. His nonideological schools are a welcome alternative to the fundamentalist madrasas often funded in the region by Saudi Wahabis which all too often preach the kind of xenophobic and sexist extremism that inculcates a Taliban or terrorist perspective. Three Cups of Tea is said to be required reading at the Pentagon these days.
I really recommend you pick up Three Cups of Tea if you haven't done so yet and treat yourself to this amazing story. This is the way to spread peace and goodwill in the world. I'm thinking Greg Mortenson will win a Nobel Peace Prize someday. And if you live in my area you even have an opportunity to see him this fall. He will be appearing at the Visalia Convention Center at 7:00 PM on Tuesday, November 16. For tickets you can contact the Convention Center or Tickets.com. I hope to see you there.
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